Mechanism for sizing



June 15, 1937.

J. c. TEMPI.; 2,083,759

MECHANISM FOR SI ZING Filed Jan. 16, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l @JF June 15, 1937. J. c. TEMPLE y MECHANISM FOR SIZING vFiled Jan. le, 1931 5 sheets-sheet 2 June 15, 1937. J. c. TEMPLE 2,083,759

MECHNISM FOR S IZ ING Filed Jan. 16, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lig f 76 /a/ i? d'5 Z 0, :Mg

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Patented June I l5, 1937\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEcH'ANIsM Foa slzlNG Application January 16, 1931, Serial No. 509,161

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in| the art of gauging or measuring, and especially to improvements in'apparatus for gauging successive work pieces to determine their size as com- 5 pared to a given size or standard.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved measuring or gauging mechanism capable of accurately determining the size of work pieces within fractional thousandths of an inch.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a compact vgauging or measuring apparatus operable by awork piece for operating'a suitable signal, or other desirable indicating mechanism.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a gauging mechanism that is extremely accurate by' eliminating the human element as a possibility of error through touch, readings, and the like.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a gauging mechanism in which mechanical motion amplifiers and the like, heretofore generally employed in gauges, have been eliminated.

Also it is an object of this invention to provide a gauging mechanism free from the difliculties frequently encountered in mechanical and electrical gauges in the past in that dirt and foreign matters or materials interfere with the smooth operation thereof and influence 'the results obtained, and free from the failure of pitted electrical contacts to properly,7 operate the electrical gauges.

Other objects and advantages of-the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a. part thereof and. it is to be understood that any modications may be madevin the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.-

In the drawings: Figure l is a frontelevational view of a gauging v mechanism including the improvements of this 4" invention. l

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

` Figure 4 isa diagrammatic view illustrating the electric circuit of the invention.

Figure 5 is a. diagrammatic view of a modified electric circuit embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 6 is another modification of the inveni tion.

Figure 'I is a sectional view on line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Throughout the several views of the drawings 5 similar reference characters are employed to de- 1 note the same or similar parts.

In the past, gauging or measuring apparatus has consisted chiefly in manually operated calipers, micrometers, or the like and in mechanical 10 and electrical circuits for cutting ofi relative feed between work and tool when the said work is reduced-to the desired size. These electrical and mechanical devices, however, were subject to faulty operation due to foreign materials or mat- 15 ter collecting on the contacts in electrical'devices, and on the shiftable members in mechanical constructions. By this invention all of these diiliculties have been eliminated.

'I'his invention makes use of radio principles in that the oscillating property of a radio tube, or the like, generates a current of a given frequency which when encountered in the same conductor by a current of a different frequency sets up a beat note or heterodyne capable of being amplified to sufficient strength to operate certain electrically controlled or operated units, such as a visible signal, feeding device or the like. lAs diagrammatically shown in Figure 4, the device of this invention employs a radio tube l0 acting as a generator of alternating current. 'I'he tube includes, as is well knownfa plate 45 opposed to a filament or electron emitting member i2. Current is fed to the illament or electron emitting member I2 by feed linesi3 and i4 coming from a power source I5 such as the A battery of a radio circuit. The plate receives direct current from a second electrical source 46, such as the B battery of a radio circuit. The current from the 13" battery 46 nows through conductor z3 40A through the primary coil of transformer 224 to a line 48 terminating in the feed coil 49 which is electrically connected with the plate 45. It is well known that as the filament or electron emitting member l2 heats up, due to the ow of cur- 45 rent therethrough, negativelycharged electrons are thrown oi and collect on the plate 45 causing a flow of current through the tube Il) from the source or B,battery 46. This ow of current through the feeder coil 49 causes an induced* 50 current to be set up in the coil 25 of -the oscillator circuit. A variablefcapacity or condenser I8 is adjusted and together with the oscillator coil 25 determines the frequency or rate of oscillation of the alternating current generatedby 55v the tube or generator I0. The adjustment of the variable capacity or `condenser I8 when once made causes the generated currentto have a fixed frequency cycle, for example one million.

Coupled in the conductor lines I3 and I4 of the A battery I5 is the filament or electron emitting member I6 of the generator I1, which, similar to the generator I0, includes a plate 5I) being fed power from the radio B battery through the line 23 and a feeder coil 5I. The flow of current through the feeder coil 5I induces a current in the oscillator coil 24 of the radio tube or generator I1. A variable condenser or capacity I9 is included with the oscillator coil 24 for determining the frequency of the current generated by the current generator I1. This condenser is adjusted to effect a generation of current at a frequency of one million cycles plus or minus flve hundred cycles. Included in the oscillating circuit of the generator I1 isa second variable capacity or condenser 20 operable, as will later appear, by the work to be measured or tested. y

An amplifier radio tube 2I is also included in the circuit having an electron emitting element or filament 52 opposed to a plate 53. The electron emitting member 52 is heated by current drawn fromv the feed lines I3 and I4 extending from the radio A battery. The plate voltage is drawn from the conductor 23 through a conductor 29, ammeter 30, coil of electro-magnetic switch 3| and conductor 54, as Jwell as receiving current through branch line 28 from conductor 23, visible` signal 21 and conductor 55 coupled to the conductor 54. The flow of current from the plate 53 to the filament 52'of the amplifier tube 2| is prevented, as is well known to those skilled in this art,.by applying an electrical potential to the grid 56 interposed therebetween. 'I'his grid is electrically connected with the secondary 51 of transformer 22, which secondary is again coupled with potentiometer 58 for establishing the necessary electrical potential on the gridv 56.

` As shown diagrammatically in Figure 4 and structurally in Figure 2, the variable capacity or condenser 20 comprises plates 39 and 40, the movable plate having depending therefrom a pin or projection 38 adapted to engage the shiftable plunger 31 of the mechanical size indicator 34. The s'aidplunger 31 is shifted by the work 35 which is placed between its lower end and the upper surfaces of a gauge block or base 36. Asl

the work is passed there-under, the movable plate 39 is moved toward the fixed plate 40 thereby changing its capacity, and in connection with the adjustable capacity or condenser 39 and oscillator coil 2,4 determines the frequency of the 4current generated by the tube I1. The parts 20, I9 and 24 are initially adjusted to cause the tube .n to oscillate or to generate a current of one million' cycles plus Jor minus five hundred cycles when the work is to 'the desired size* as will later appear.

This current of variable frequency is picked'up by the'coupler coil 24a and fed to the grid of generator I0 causing a heterodyning note equal to theiifference between itself and the frequency of y.the current initially 1therein through the conductor 26 to the gri 59 interposed betweemthev plate 45 land filament I2 of the generator'l causes a greater current to be drawn through the primary/coil Iii/[from the B battery 46. The current generated bythe radio tubes I1` and I0 is fed back to the source of .power or"B battery 46. This current in being fed backpasse's through the fixed condenser 41 and primary'coil 60 of transformer 22. The high or Yradioffrend y fed back.

quency current can only pass through the fixed condenser or capacity 41 while the low frequency current or that caused by the heterodyning of the two currents will only pass through the said primary coil 60. Thisrelatively low frequency current owing through the primary 6B of the transformer 22 induces a current in the second-ary coil 51 of the transformer causing a flow of electrical energy to the grid 56 of amplifier tube 2|, lowering the electrical potential thereof and permitting a flow of current from the plate 53 to the filament 52 of amplifier tube 2I, and consequently permitting a iiow of current through the visible signal 21, visibly advising the operator of the size of the work and through the coil 3|` for closing the electro-magnetic switch and permitting a ow of current through conductors 32 and 33.

'I'he modified circuit shown in Figure 5 utilizes a piezo crystal for controlling the oscillations of the circuit and point at which instrumentalities controlled and operated thereby are energized. As shown therein the circuit includes a current generator or radio tube 10 having the usual elements, such as plate 1I, grid 12 and filament or electron emitting member 13. The electron emitting member 13 is connected by leads 14 and 15 to the'source of electrical energy or A battery 16. The plate 1I receives its electrical charge from a second electrical source or B battery 11 through a conductor 18, coil 19 and 'conductor 80, The coil 19 has electric-ally connected in parallel therewith variable capacities or condensers 8I and'82 which constitute the oscillating circuit for determining thefrequency of the alternating current generated by the tube or generator 10. The grid 12 of the tube or generator 1B has extending therefrom an electrical conductor 83 connected at one end to one side of the piezo crystal 84. A filter coil 85 is electrically connected to the conductor 83 intermediate its ends and the coil 85 hase'xtending from its opposite end a conductor 86 terminating at the B battery 11 minus terminal so that a negative electrical potential is placed on the grid 12, as will later appear. The piezo crystal 84 has its other side electrically connected through a conductor 81 with one terminal example, will be permitted to pass, as well as a current vvarying therefrom by a very slight amount,` forexample two hundred or less frequencles.

` Froinl this it will be seen that if the oscillating circuit including variable condensers'or capacities 8Iand 82 -and inductance coil '.l'are out of tune a continuous iiow of direct current from the plate 1I of the generator 10 to the filament or electron emitting element 13 will occur without interference by the grid 12. If, however, the said circuit is brought into tune or resonanceby adjusting one of the condensers 8I or 82 forexample, this circuit will generate acurrentbf a frequency equivalent toI that of thel piezoI crystal 84 whereby a potential-on thevgrid 12j Ais vobtained preventing a flow of purrentffrom' "th'ei plate 1I to the lament` 13 thereby causing ,fa drop in the voltage in the primary coil 19 which drop in voltage immediately effects the'-ele.ctricald potential current again from the plate 1| to the filament 13 raising the current voltage in the primary coil 19 and through the plate 1| raising the inducted potential of the grid 12 thereby again cutting down the flow of current from plate 10 to element 13. 'I'his variable flow of current throu'gl'i the primary coil 19 induces a current in the secondary coil 88 which is electrically connected at one end by conductor89 with grid 90 of amplifying .tube

9| and at the other end through electrical conductor 92 with a potentiometer 93. Potentiometer 93 is connected across the power source leads 14 and 15 for maintaining an electrical potential on the grid 90 thereby preventing a flow of current from the plate 94 to the filament or electron emitting member 95 of the tube 9|. This induced current in the secondary coil 88 lowers the electrical potential in the grid 90 to the point of permitting a flow of current betweenthe plate 94 and filament 95 of the amplifying tube 9|. This flow of current is from the conductor 18 which is connected to the B battery power source 11 through lead 96, ammeter 91, solenoid switch 98 and conductor 99, as well as through branch lead |00 from the conductor 18, visible signal |0| and conductor |02 to the plate line 99.

The variable condenser or capacity 82 is identical in structure to the condenser 20.of the circuit shown in Figure 4, and similarly comprises xed plate 40 and movable. plate 39 which has extending therefrom the pin 38 engaging plunger 31 of 1 the visible mechanical indicator 34 which contacts with the work 35 supported by the anvil or base 36.

The further and preferred modification of the circuit shown in Figure 6 comprises an oscillating circuit including radio tube |40 having the usual elements, such as a filament or electron emitting member |4|, a grid |42, and plate |43. The filament |4| `is'connected by electrical leads |44 and |45 to the secondary coil |46 of a transformer or power pack. The said power pack is connected to the normal house current generally 110 volts alternating current, and comprises the primary coil |41 feeding thel secondary coils |48 and |46. The secondary coil |48 steps up the voltage of the normal current to the desired point and feeds said stepped up voltage through 'electrical leads |49 and |50 to current rectifier |5| for changing the current from alternating to direct. 'Ihe rectified current passes through the electrical lead |52 to the coil |53 of relay |63, electrical lead |54, feeder coil.|55 to the electrical line |56 connected with the plate l|43 of radio tube |40. 'I'he current flowing-from the rectifier |5| to the plate |43, as above described, places an electrical potential on the grid |42 which is connected by electrical lead |51 with the piezo crystal |58 which controls the oscillation of the circuit. A radio frequency choke coill 59 is coupled in the lead 60 which extends from the grid line |51 back to thecenter tap of the secondary coil |48 of the ,v armature power pack. 'Ihe normal flow of the current or the flow of the current with the variable capacity vary the fundamental frequency of the oscillating circuit and to4 tune same to the frequency of the controlling circuit including the piezo crystal |58. The said tuning circuit includes a coil 299 coupled with the coil |55. A pair of leads 20| and `202 extend from the opposite ends of the coupler coil 200 and respectively, connect at their other end with the fixed plate40 andthe movable plate 39 of variable capacity or condenser 20. A fixed capacity or condenser 203 is connected across the leads 20| and 202 and the said condenser 203 cooperates with the inductance or coupler coil 200 in effecting a flow of currentJ caused by a drop in voltage on the coil |55. Additionally the tuning circuit may have wired in series in one of its leads, for example, lead 20| an A. C. micro-ammeter 204 for measuring the current flowing in said tuning circuit.

The operation of this circuit is as follows: The normal house current is transformed to the desired voltage by the power pack connected with the source which transformed current is rectified or changed from A. C. to D. C. and fed to the direct current circuit through the lead |52, coil |53, lead |54, coil |55, plate |43, filament |4|, lead |44, branch lead |6I, resistor |62, and conductor |60 to the source or middle tap of the primary coil |48. Current also passes in a reverse direction along lead |60 t'o choke coil |59 to lead |51 to energize the frequency determining circuit including'a part of said lead |51, grid |42, crystal |58, lament |4| and the electrical lead connecting the filament |4| and crystal |58. As was noted above, the crystal has a substantially definite frequency cycle and as soon as the cur- 'Ihis frequency is out of tune with the' A rfundamental frequency of the direct current circuit whereby the electrical potential on 'the grid |42 does not materially interfere with the flow of current through the direct current circuit and a minimum of current flowing through the said direct current circuit is insufiicient to effect operation of relay |63. As the work is passed beneath the variable capacity or condenser 20 and the plates 39 and 40 are actuated toward one another, the characteristic of the direct current circuit is changed by varying the fundamental frequency cycle of saidy circuit by synchronizing said frequency with the frequency of the control circuit as determined by the piezo crystal. As was mentioned above, there is a `very small band of `f1equencies,`such as 200 or less, above and below the fundamental frequency of the crystal which will pass therethrough and this band of frequencies is employed to denote when the work is within the prescribed limits of allowance, such as one ten thousandth of an inch. Therefore, if the work is within the saidprescribed limits the tuning circuit will cause the direct current circuit to oscillate at a frequency determined by the piezo crystal. With the direct current circuit and frequencydetermining circuit oscillating in unison a' much greater current is drawn through the direct current circuit which current has suffilcient strength to operate relay |63 and close switch |68 to complete the Work circuit including leads |66l and |61.. .l

In order to determine the actual size of a work piece use ismade ofthe micro-ammeter 204-to measure the ilow of current in the tuning circuit,4 representative of the size of the workas induced v by the rise and fall of the voltage in coil |55 of direct current line. It will be understood that with a work piece absolutely to size the greatest amount of current will be induced in the tuning circuit because the frequency of the direct `current and frequency control circuits will be synchronized or at one hundred and eighty degrees phase. In other Words, a curve plotted to represent the meter readings of a Workl piece at absolutely correct size will indicate a gradual increase in flow of current till the peak is reached and then a gradual decline in current flow. While a piece of work above or below the exact size will register a peak flow of current below the ulti-mate peak and to the right or left of center of the correct size ultimate peak depending on whether the work piece is above or below the exact size. It will be understood that the meter readings may be calibrated in thousandths or fractional thousandths of an inch of work. Therefore, in addition to determining the size of a work piece Within certain definite limits relative to a given size or standard within, for example, one ten thousandth of an inch, the work 'may be actually measured Within one hundredth of a -thousandth of an inch and less.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the improved sizing device of this invention comprises a plurality of electrical'or radio circuits adapted to be brought in synchronism with one another to generate alternating currents having different frequency cycles within a certain band which is employed for operating certain other i-nstrumentalities for visibly indicating the size of the work or for energizing a supplemental work circuit or circuits. The variable capacities or condensers 20 and 82 are subject to a very slight adjustment for synchronizing or tuning the circuits one with respect to the other. This movement is so slight that a tenth of a thousandth on the diameter of a work piece, for example, will throw the circuits into and out of oscillation. This is possible because of the high radio frequency initially used in the circuit and employing a differential frequency between the two within the audible band. From this it will be seen that every care must be exercised to prevent relative movement between plates 39 and 40 of the condensers 20 and 82 except as moved by the work itself when in engagement with the plunger 31.

To this end a very sturdy instrument has been provided which is structurally illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7 of the drawings. As there shown the base or anvil 35 forms a rigid base for supporting the mechanism and is provided with a bore H0 receiving the reduced end HI of a column H2. The column H2 is provided on its v'forward face with rack teeth H3 whereby the mechanical gage 34 and condenser 20 operated thereby may be adjusted relative to the base or anvil 36 to take care of various or differentsizes of Work. A bracket H4 surrounds the column H 2' and has journaled in its side walls a shaft H5 having keyed or otherwise secured theretoa pinion H6 meshing with the rack teeth H3. A knob or handle H'| is secured to the shaft H5 Vexteriorlyof the bracket H4 for actuating said shaft and the pinion H6 to thereby raise said bracket relative tothe column H2. The condenser 20 is mounted in a bracket H8 also surrounding the column H2 but spaced above the bracket H4 and is pro-vided in its forward end with a socket H9 for insulation material |20 to which is secured the fixed plate 40 of the condenser. A pin or post |2| extends through the pacity I9 and oscillator coupling coil 24.

plate 40 and insulation material through andbeyond the socket portion H9 of the bracket H8 to'which theelectrical lead |22 is secured for connecting the said plate with the variable ca- The bracket H8 is further provided with a threaded perforation |23 in axial alignment with a threaded'perforation |24 formed in the bracket I4. An

adjusting screw |25 is threadedly received in the lperforation |23 and has a reduced threaded portion |26 received in the threaded portion |24 of bracket H4. A knob |2'| is secured to the upper end of the s'crew |25 for actuating the said screw. Ihe differential threaded portions |25 and |26 effect a very fine adjustment between the condenser plates 39 and 40 of the condenser 20 respectively, carried by the said bracket for obtaining a minute adjustment of said plates. By this construction the oscillating circuit of Figure 4 including the variable condensers 20 and 9 and oscillator coupler coil 24 may be obtained. A clamp screw |28 is mounted in each of the brackets H4 and H8 for clamping same in adjusted position. Said clamping screws |28 are received in a shoe |29 having a shoulder |30 formed thereon for abutment against a complementaryk shoulder |3| formed on the column H2. A handle |32 is secured tothe outer end of each o-f thev adjusting screws |28 for actuating same.

The clamping of the brackets to the column is obtained by rotating the-screw |28 through the knob |32 for axially adjusting the shoe |29 relative to the screw toward the knob |32, as seen in Figure 3, to thereby bind the said shoe and vpost |2| through the interengagement of shoulder |30 and I3I.

From an examination of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7, it will be noted that the parts of the sizing mechanism are of massive construction tending toward great rigidity and prevent undesirable vibration from effecting the relative position of the plates 39 and 40 of` condenser 20 to thereby insure an accurate gaging of the work.

What is claimed is:

porting face, a, column uprising from one side o f the pedestal and means carried by the column `for indicating variations in the size of a Work piece mounted on said pedestal relative to a predetermined standard including a rst bracket adjustably mounted on the column, an indicator dial supported on the bracket and having a plunger arranged perpendicularly to said pedestal face, said plunger projecting above said dial, a condenser plate integrally attached to the upper end of said plunger, a second bracket carried by the column and supporting a condenser plate in opposition to the first plate, means to adjust the second bracket relative to the first bracket to adjust the capacity of .the condenser plates and thereby tune a-connected electrical oscillating circuit into lresonance with a second electrical oscillating circuit, whereby upon insertion of a work piece ofiincorrect size between said plunger and said face, said plunger' will simultaneously move said indicator dial and detune said rst circuit out of resonance with said secondv circuit and cause simultaneous indication that the Work piece is `of incorrect size.

2. In a precision measuring comparator, the combination of a support having a work receiving face, a guide member arranged perpendicularly to said face, an`d means carried by the guide member for causing indication of a variance in the accanto size of a work piece relative to a predetermined standard including a first bracket mounted on said guide member, means to lock the bracket to said guide member, an indicator dial supported on the bracket and having a plunger positioned perpendicularly to said work receiving face, a condenser plate integrally attached for movement by said plunger, a second bracket carried by the guide member and supporting a second condenser plate, means to insulate one 0f said condenser plates relative to its supporting bracket, said condenser plates forming the tuning capacitance of an electric oscillating circuit, a second oscillating circuit electrically `'coupled to the first circuit and having a fixed period of oscillation, means to eect a relative adjustment between said brackets to cause said condenser plates to tune the first circuit into resonance with the second circuit without disturbing the position of said indicator dial, whereby upon insertion of a work piece of incorrect size between said plunger.

and said work receiving face, said plunger will simultaneously actuate said dial and detune said circuits and electrically energizable means responsive to the detuning of said circuits to indicate simultaneously with said indicator dial that the inserted work piece is of incorrect size.

3. In a precision measuring comparator, the

combination of a pedestal having a work receiving face, a support projecting from said face, a first member carried by said support and having an indicator dial 'mounted thereon with its operating plunger arranged perpendicular to said face, asecond member carried by said support and having a condenser plate mounted thereon in axial alignment with said plunger, means to insulate said plate from its supporting member, a second condenser plate carried by said plunger in opposed relation to the first mentioned plate, said condenser plates forming part of an electrical oscillating circuit, a second oscillating circuit electrically coupled to the first and having standard of size may be obtained by the first adjustment, and a tuning of said circuits into reso nance by said second adjustment. vJOHN C. TEMPLE. 

